Awning



E. H. PRATT Jan. 26, I954 AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1952 Jan. 26, 1954 A T 2,666,964

AWNING Filed May 7, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 26, 1954 i'iED STA OFFICE AWNING Edward H. Pratt, Belleville, Il1., assignor to Ace Metal Products, Inc., New Baden, 111., a corporation of Illinois 11 Claims.

This invention relates to awnings, and more particularly to a novel variable-shape rigid awning.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a novel rigid awning which is adapted to assume and to be retained in any one of various shapes, so that the user has a selection as to the appearance of the awning when it is hung on a wall over a window or door; the provision or an awning of the class described which may be shaped to be fiat, or convex, or concave, with varying degrees of convexity or concavity; the provision of an awning of the class described providing for ventilation; and the provision of an awning of the class described particularly adapted for manufacture from sheet metal. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. i is a front elevation of an awning of this invention as it appears when hung on a wall;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, showing the awning hung on a wall, illustrating in solid lines the fiat shape of the awning, and illustrating in dotted lines convex and concave shapes of the awning;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective showing an upper corner of the awning, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective showing an intermediate portion of the awning, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective showing a lower corner Of the awning, with parts broken away and shown in section; I I

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5; and,

Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 7-4 of Fig. 2.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, an awning constructed in accordance with my invention is shown to comprise a stiff but resilient panel I adapted for pivotal attachment at its upper end to a wall W (Fig. 2) by means of hinges 3 (see Figs. 1-3). The panel comprises an upper section consisting of a series of upper slats 5 and a lower section consisting of a series of lower slats 7. The slats ar made of thin and stiff but resilient sheet metal, and, when unstressed, are fiat. They extend from the upper end to the iower end of the panel.

The upper slats 5 are secured to the upper sides or" an upper transverse brace or bar s, an intermediate transverse bar l l and a lower transverse bar 53. Each of these bars 9, ll, i3 is made of sheet metal and is of Z-shape in cross-section, thereby having upper and lower oppositely extending flanges. The upper and lower flanges of bar 9 are designated I 5 and ii, those of bar H are designated I9 and 2!, and those of bar 53 are designated 23 and 25. As indicated at 2'? in Figs. 3-5, upper slats 5 are spot-welded at their upper ends to the upper flanges 15, it and 23 of bars 3, II and Is, in transversely spaced relation across the width of the awning. The width 0*. the spaces between slats 5 is less than the width of lower slats I. At their lower ends, the slats may be straight, or curved as indicated in dotted. lines at 2a in Fig. 6. Hinges 3 have one leaf spot" welded to the upper flange 15 of bar 9.

The lower slats l are secured at their upper ends as by spot welding 34 to the lower side of the bottom flange ii of bar 5 (see Fig. 3) in transversely spaced relation across the width of the awning, in staggered relation with respect to slats 5 so that slats 5 overlap slats l. Slats i are slidably associated with the intermediate bar I l and the lower bar I 3, extending through open ings provided by clips 33 formed by integral downstruck bridge portions of the lower flange 2| of bar H and the lower flan e of bar l3. At their lower ends, the slats may be straight or curved as indicated in dotted lines at 35 in Fig. 6.

At each side of the awning is a first variablelength rigid strut 39 pivotally connected at one end to the respective end of the intermediate bar i l and adapted for pivotal connection at its other end to the wall. One strut 39 is concealed behind the other in Fig. 2. Each strut 39 comprises telescopically slidable tubes 4! and 53 adapted to be retained at various lengths by a set screw or any other suitable means. Tube H is pivoted at one end by means of a pin iii in a bracket or clevis 43 adapted for attachment to the wall. Tube 43 is pivoted at its outer end by means of a. pin 5! in a clevis 53' spot welded to bar H at its end.

At each side of the awning is a second variable length rigid strut 59 pivotally connected at one end to the respective end of the lower bar I3 and adapted for pivotal connection at its other end to the wall. One strut 59 is concealed behind the other in Fig. 2. Each strut 59 comprises telescopically slidable tubes BI and 63 adapted to be retained at various lengths by a set screw 65 or any other suitable means. Tube 6! is pivoted at one end by means of a pin 67 in the clevis 49. Tube 63 is pivoted at its outer end by means of a pin 69 in a clevis H spot welded to the bar l3 at its end.

The awning is mounted on the wall W by attachment of hinges 3 and clevises 49 to the wall. By appropriately adjusting the lengths of the variable-length rigid strut means 39 and 59, the shape of the panel I may be changed from the flat shape shown in solid lines in Fig. 2 by bending either to a convex or concave shape such as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Upon adjustment, the lower slats I slide in the clips 33 to eliminate such buckling of the lower slats as would occur were they fixed to the bars H and IS. The lower slats are spaced from the upper slats by the bars 9, I l and [3 to provide ventilating openings through the awning panel. Due to the elimination of buckling by the sliding action of the lower slats, the spacing of the upper and lower slats for ventilation is maintained in whatever shape may be imparted to the panel I.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A variable-shape rigid awning comprising a stiff but resilient panel adapted for pivotal attachment at its upper end to a Wall, variablelength rigid strut means pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of the panel and adapted for attachment at its other end to the wall, and variable-length rigid strut means pivotally connected at one end to the panel intermediate the upper and lower ends of the panel and adapted for attachment at its other end to the wall, said panel, when unstressed, being generally fiat but adapted to be bent to convex or concave shape by adjusting the length of the strut means.

2. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim 1 wherein the panel is composed of an upper and a lower series of slats which extend from the upper to the lower end of the panel, the slats being transversely spaced and in staggered overlapping relation.

3. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim 2 wherein the upper series and lower series of slats are spaced to provide ventilating openings through the panel.

4. A variable-shape rigid awning comprising a stiff but resilient panel adapted for attachment at its upper end to a wall, said panel comprising an upper section and a lower section, a lateral lower support and. a lateral intermediate support, one section being fixed to the said supports and the other being slidably associated with said supports by being slidable in openings in said supports, variable-length rigid strut means pivotally connected at one end to the lower support and adapted for pivotal connection at its other end to the wall, and variable-length rigid strut means pivotally connected at one end to the intermedi ate support and adapted for pivotal connection at its other end to the wall, said panel, when unstressed, being generally flat but adapted to be bent to convex or concave shape by adjusting the length of the strut means.

5. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim l wherein the upper and lower section each consists of a series of transversely spaced slats which extend from the upper to the lower end of the panel, the upper and lower slats being in staggered overlapping relation.

6. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim l wherein the upper slats are spaced from the lower slats to provide ventilating openings through the panel.

7. A variable-shape rigid awning comprising upper, intermediate and lower transverse awning bars, an upper series of stiff but resilient slats which extend from the upper end to the lower end of the awning fixed to the oars in transversely spaced relation across the width of the awning, and a lower series of stiil but resilient slats which extend from the upper to the lower end of the awning fixed to the upper bar and slidably associated with the intermediate and lower bars by being slidable in openings in the intermediate and lower bars and spaced below the upper slats, the lower slats being transversely spaced across the width of the awning in staggered relation with respect to the upper slats.

8. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim '7 further comprising hinge means on the upper bar for pivotally attaching the upper end of the awning to a wall, variable-length rigid struts pivotally attached at one end to the ends of the lower bar and adapted for pivotal connection at the other end to the wall, and variablelength rigid struts pivotally attached at one end to the ends of the intermediate bar and adapted fornpivotal connection at the other end to the we 9. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim 8 wherein the two struts at each side of the awning are pivotally connected to a single bracket for attachment to the wall.

10. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim 7 wherein the bars and slats are made of sheet metal, the bars having upper and lower flanges, the upper slats being fixed to the upper flanges of the bars, the lower slats being fixed to the lower flange of the upper bar, the lower flanges of the intermediate and lower bars having integral downstruck clips receiving the lower slats, the latter being slidable in said clips.

11. A variable-shape rigid awning as set forth in claim 10 wherein the bars are of Z-shape in cross-section.

EDWARD H. PRATT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stockton Apr. 15, 1890 

